Bird is paranormal (From Penarth Times)

Bird is paranormal

AN UNORTHODOX zoology group claims that the mystery bird creature spotted in Penarth could be a paranormal apparition.

A woman from Purcell Road said she was terrified after seeing a mysterious, bird-like creature with a wing-span of several metres in her back garden (Penarth Times, November 3).

Now Oll Lewis, Welsh representative of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, told the Penarth Times: "In my view this could be a case of what we call zooform phenomena.

"These are not animals but entities or apparitions which seem to have animal or part-animal form.

"This is where we enter X-Files territory. Zooform phenomena seem to be a mysterious blend of paranormal manifestation and mythological icons.

"The Centre for Fortean Zoology has recorded many sightings of zooform phenomena in the UK over the past few years. One of the most famous is the owl man of Cornwall."

Oll Lewis, who lives in Dinas Powys, has a more earthly explanation for the mystery cat creature spotted on Bridgeman Road recently by another reader (Penarth Times, October 27).

He said: "Judging by the description, I think it could be a Racoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) - otherwise known as a Tanuki.

"Several racoon dogs have recently escaped captivity from fur farms in Europe.